From Black Cats to Four-Leaf Clover: Bizarre Superstitions That Will Leave You Dumbfounded

Since the dawn of technological advancements, superstitions have been buried – however, you would be surprised to know that there are still some who abide by these ridiculous-sounding beliefs. That said, have you ever wondered where these originated?

‘Bless You’

It has become a norm to say bless you whenever someone sneezes, but where’s the logic in that? You don’t bless someone just because they are trying to remove an irritant out of their body.

People used to believe that sneezing separates your soul from your body

This dates back to ancient times when Greeks and Romans greatly believed that a person’s soul can separate from the physical body. According to Moira Smith, a folklore librarian, people then thought that when they dream or sneeze, their souls get out of their bodies, so concerned friends started saying the phrase to guard the soul against bad ones.

Black Cats

Up until now, some cultures see black cats as bad luck, which also explains why they are the last to be adopted in rescue shelters. This superstition originated in the 14^th century, when people thought these cuddly creatures were associated with the devil.

In fact, they hated these felines so much that they see them as the reason the Black Death pandemic happened. Two centuries later during the height of the frenzy over witchcraft, Europeans linked black cats to those they believed were witches.

No. 13

We often see the number 13 as bad luck and there are two reasons this has prevailed until now. In Catholicism, Judas Iscariot arrived at The Last Supper as the 13^th guest and he betrayed Jesus Christ.

Many people see the number 13 as bad luck

In Greek mythology, trickster Loki also came to the divine party as the 13^th guest and he became responsible for creating chaos in the world. He even convinced one attendee to shoot the god of joy.

Knock on Wood

Knocking on wood makes us feel bad predictions won’t come true

Nowadays, when we don’t want our terrifying predictions to happen, we knock on wood. It is rooted in an ancient pagan belief that kind gods and spirits live inside trees so if you need protection or good luck, you call on them by knocking on the tree trunk.

Four-Leaf Clover

People say that when you find a four-leaf clover, you will be rewarded with good luck. It is also used as a symbol of abundance and prosperity.

That’s because it is extremely rare – others say you have a one in 10,000 chance to find one. According to tales, Eve picked a four-leaf clover from the Garden of Eden when she learned that she was expelled, thinking it would serve as a remembrance of the paradise.